Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
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Ordinance 26-073, relating to Growth Management; concerning development standards and siting process for personal wireless service facilities; amending Chapters 30.28A and 30.91S of the Snohomish County Code
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DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development Services (PDS)
ORIGINATOR: Jennifer Cao
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Michael McCrary 10/19/26
PURPOSE: To clarify and improve the County’s regulatory framework for small wireless facilities (SWFs) by aligning the permitting process with the scale and function of these facilities, removing unnecessary zoning permit requirements, and maintaining consistency with applicable federal requirements.
BACKGROUND: Chapter 30.28A SCC was primarily developed to regulate larger, macro-scale wireless facilities with zoning use-based review processes. As SWFs have become more common, applying these same processes, particularly conditional use permit (CUP) requirements, has created ambiguity and inconsistency when facilities are within county right-of-way. Because SWFs are smaller in size and typically integrated into existing infrastructure, they function more similarly to other utility infrastructure in right-of-way than to land uses on private parcels. These amendments establish an administrative review process, remove zoning-based permit requirements, and maintain applicable development, safety, and right-of-way standards to improve clarity, streamline processing, and support consistent application of County code. PDS briefed the Planning Commission on the proposed code amendments on May 26, 2026, followed with a public hearing held on June 23, 2026. The Planning Commission recommended adoption as outlined in their July 2, 2026, letter.
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OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW/COMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Finance - Nathan Kennedy 10/14/26. AATF: Christina Richmond